[1][2] The West End production was directed by Peter Brook with choreography by John Heawood, and starred Keith Michell as Nestor, a student, Elizabeth Seal as Irma, and Clive Revill as the barman/narrator.

[4] The story was adapted for a non-musical film of the same title in 1963, directed by Billy Wilder starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.

Finally no longer able to sustain his exhausting life, he "kills" Oscar, is convicted of murder, and is transported to the Devil's Island penal colony.

Life Magazine called the musical "a French fairy tale for wicked grown-ups who want to believe in love" and praised Seal.

"Elizabeth Seal is an ideal Irma, tender, breezy, and totally implausible as a bad girl...the season's new favorite."